This is Hamilton City, NZ

Colinda and I, take a walk around Hamilton city in #New Zealand, discovering little hidden gems and see some really old buildings, some amazing wall art and quirky shops. We also try out this little breakfast place. Hamilton, New Zealand (fondly known to locals as "The Tron" or "Hamiltron") is a city packed with quirky history, pop-culture claims to fame, and incredible geographical traits. Here are 20 interesting facts about the heart of the Waikato: Pop Culture & Innovations 1. Birthplace of Rocky Horror: Richard O’Brien, the creator of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, lived in Hamilton and worked as a barber on Victoria Street. He drew inspiration for the cult classic from the late-night double-features he watched at the local Embassy Theatre. You can even visit a bronze statue of his character, Riff Raff, in the CBD! 2. The Electric Fence was Invented Here: In the 1930s, local inventor Bill Gallagher created the world's first electric fence. He originally rigged it up to the family car to stop his horse, Joe, from scratching himself against the vehicle. 3. Duck Island Ice Cream Roots: One of New Zealand's most famous boutique ice cream brands, Duck Island, was born right here in Hamilton in 2015. It takes its name from the small island in the Waikato River near the suburbs of Hamilton East and Silverdale. Geography & Nature 1. Largest Inland City: Hamilton is New Zealand's largest landlocked, inland city, and the country's fourth most-populous urban area overall. 2. Bisected by the Mighty Waikato: The Waikato River—the longest river in New Zealand—runs straight through the middle of the city for 16 kilometers. 3. A Massive Network of Gullies: Hamilton is built on a unique landscape shaped by ancient volcanic ash and floods. It features an extensive network of thousands-of-years-old gullies that now serve as lush, native green spaces cutting through suburban neighborhoods. 4. Hamilton Lake is Ancient: Lake Rotoroa (Hamilton Lake) is a peat lake that formed roughly 20,000 years ago as part of an old river system. Today, its 3.8-kilometer perimeter path is the city's most popular walking track. 5. World-Class, Award-Winning Gardens: The famous Hamilton Gardens doesn't just display plants by botanical classification. Instead, it tells the "story of gardens" through breathtaking concept designs, featuring an ancient Egyptian garden, a Surrealist garden, and a traditional Māori productive garden (Te Parapara). History & Growth 1. The Name Kirikiriroa: Long before European settlement, the area was home to several thriving Māori villages. The city's official Māori name is Kirikiriroa, which translates beautifully to "long stretch of gravel," describing the banks of the Waikato River. 2. Divided by Water: Hamilton actually began as two separate, rival military settlements in 1864: Hamilton West and Hamilton East. The two sides couldn't easily trade until they pooled resources to build the "Union Bridge" in 1878, officially merging into one borough. 3. The Electricity Merger: The neighboring borough of Frankton actually had electricity six years before Hamilton did (hooked up in 1911). When Frankton merged into Hamilton in 1917, a huge motivating factor for Hamiltonians was finally getting access to Frankton's power grid! 4. A Secret WW2 Ammo Factory: During World War II, a secret ammunition factory was built in the green space between Fox Street and Flynn Road. Because the primary factory in Auckland was a high-risk target for enemy attack, the Hamilton site was kept completely out of the press. Decades later, during road construction, workers were still digging up old bullets. Science, Infrastructure & Quirks 1. Southern Hemisphere's Largest Hospital Campus: Waikato Hospital is the largest single-hospital campus in the Southern Hemisphere, employing over 6,000 staff members. 2. A Youthful Population: Hamilton is incredibly young compared to the rest of the country. Thanks to the University of Waikato and Wintec, roughly half of the city's residents are under the age of 30. 3. The Aviation Hub: Hamilton Airport (Rukuhia) has a rich aviation history. After WWII, hundreds of old fighter planes were parked there to be scrapped. Today, the area is a manufacturing hub that exports top-dressing and utility aircraft all over the world. 4. NZ's First Internet Connection: The University of Waikato was the birthplace of New Zealand's internet connection. In 1989, a permanent data link was established from the campus to NASA in the United States, officially bringing the country online. Sports & Events